Harriet Martha Freemantle was the fifth child of George Freemantle* and Elizabeth Ann Freemantle nee Stillwell, but as two of her sisters had died as infants, she grew up as the third daughter of the family. She was born in Grahamstown on 16.9.1848 and her parents moved to the Somerset district while she was still an infant. Her brother George was born there, but he too died, just before his third birthday, so that it was only her parents and the three girls who moved to Cradock sometime before 1852, when a fourth little girl was born.

On 12.11.1866 in Hanover, Cape, Harriet Martha Freemantle became the second wife of Ralph Cawood, a farmer, widowed when his first wife Elizabeth Cawood nee Dobson died, leaving four young children. Ralph Cawood was the son of Joshua Cawood* and Mary Cawood nee Manley, and the grandson of Joshua Cawood* and Mary Cawood nee Smith*, all from Yorkshire and Settlers in Hayhurst's party on the 'John'. This party was locatedin Trappes Valley, butRalph Cawood was born at Manley Flats on 9.12.1829. Later, his father was a member of the House of Assembly for Port Elizabeth (1869 - 1863); a Big Game hunter and a Pioneer in Natal; he was also in the merchantile business in Grahamstown.

There were nine children of Ralph Cawood's second marriage and he died at Herbert, Vlakfontein, (Papkruil) , his own residence, on 22.4.1895. He left three farms and stock at his death, aged 65 years and 4 months.